The improvement of thermoelectric properties of SnSe by alkali metal doping

Selenium selenide (SnSe) has attracted widespread attention because of its environmental friendliness and ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity. Single-crystal SnSe has been discovered to exhibit a high ZT value, but its mechanical qualities are weak and its manufacturing process is complicated, rendering it unsuitable for commercial usage. Polycrystalline SnSe is facile to synthesis; however, due to its weakened electrical performance, it has a poor thermoelectric property. In this study, polycrystalline SnSe samples are prepared using hydrothermal synthesis combined with vacuum sintering, and their thermoelectric properties are modulated using alkali metal element doping.